Or they might know the town is the birthplace of TV gardener/presenter/ chat-show host Alan Titchmarsh.

The poor place is forever linked with a daft folk song and a telly nice-guy who is hardly off our screens.

Which is a shame, because Ilkley is a great place - a really great place - to spend a weekend.

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It's a buzzing, lively town with plenty of pubs, restaurants and independent shops.

Ilkley Moor, of song fame, is close by, with the impressive Cow And Calf Rocks which are well worth visiting for the spectacular views.

And the Yorkshire Dales are not far away, great for walking, cycling or a scenic drive. As well as some of the most stunning countryside in England, you are never far from any of the busy towns and cities of Yorkshire.

Bradford, Leeds, York and Harrogate are within an hour's drive.

There is also a wealth of historic houses, abbeys and gardens to visit.

We stayed at the Crescent Inn, which has stood on a prime crossroads site in Ilkley for 150 years. Last year it underwent a massive facelift.

Rooms are named after local places, such as Appletreewick, Askwith and Kettlewell, and photos of Yorkshire celebrities (including, you guessed it, Alan Titchmarsh) are displayed on the landing.

Our room was bright and airy with a view over the main street, but noise-free because of excellent double-glazing.
And the bed was incredibly comfortable.

The hotel restaurant is Le Bistrot Pierre, one of a small chain serving contemporary French food at very reasonable prices.

There was an excellent atmosphere on a busy Friday night, with staff working very hard yet staying good-humoured.
The Bistrot Pierre has made a big impression on the locals - every table was booked.

My crab salad, pork roti topped with black pudding, and cheese board were stunning, the pork cooked to perfection. The hotel also has a very popular pub serving real ales.

Before returning home on Sunday we headed for Harrogate and spent the morning at the Royal Horticultural Society's Harlow Carr Gardens.

It's a must-see for gardeners, with plenty of ideas for your plot.

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We had lunch at the Fat Badger pub, part of the White Hart Hotel.

If you have the appetite, I can highly recommend the Fat Fat Fat Badger Burger, a towering construction of 8oz Highland beef burger, bacon, cheese, tomato, rocket and onion rings.

Waistlines groaning, we set off down the A1, already looking forward to returning to this fantastic corner of the UK.

FACT BOX

DOUBLE rooms B&B at the Crescent Inn start at £75 per room per night.

Call 01943 811250 or go to thecrescentinn.co.uk.

For Le Bistrot Pierre, Ilkley call 01943 811255. For menus and other restaurant locations see lebistrotpierre.co.uk.

For The Fat Badger, Cold Bath Road, Harrogate, call 01423 505681 or visit thefatbadger.co.uk.